Greg Garcia Sells Two Comedies To CBS

EXCLUSIVE: In his first development cycle at CBS TV Studios, My Name Is Earl and Raising Hope creator Greg Garcia has set up two half-hour projects at CBS: a single-camera comedy, which he is writing, and a hybrid one to be written by Danielle Sanchez-Witzel.

Details about Garcia’s own project are being kept under wraps but it is said to be very much in the style of Garcia’s previous shows, combining quirky comedy, original characters, relatable themes and a lot of heart. Emmy winner Garcia is writing and executive producing.

Sanchez-Witzel’s Capturing Crazy is about a woman in her mid-20s who turns her documentary camera on her own family to prove once and for all that they’re crazy. Sanchez-Witzel is writing and will executive produce with Garcia. The project reunites the duo. Sanchez-Witzel got her break on Garcia’s NBC comedy My Name Is Earl, which she joined right after the pilot and stayed for its entire four-season run, rising to co-executive producer.

Both CAA-repped Garcia and UTA-repped Sanchez-Witzel signed overall deals at CBS Studios in the spring after long stints at other studios, 20th TV and Universal TV, respectively. Garcia’s four-year pact, which allows him to continue as showrunner on Raising Hope for one more season while developing, is the biggest CBS TV Studios has signed with a comedy showrunner. The two projects are bringing him back at CBS where he co-created Yes, Dear. CBS’ decision to go with a single-camera comedy project from its sister studio’s top comedy writer-producer underlines the network’s commitment to the filmed comedy form, which has been absent from the network for four seasons.